Fecal collection bag retention device for use in zero gravity

Abstract

A fecal canister for use in a space application has a canister body extending from an inlet end toward a remote end. Hooks are aligned along an inner surface of the canister from the inlet end towards the remote end. In embodiments, a compaction lid, or a storage bag catch on the hooks to maintain a compacted position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A fecal canister for use in a space application comprising:
 a canister body extending from an inlet end toward a remote end; 
 hooks aligned along an inner surface of said canister from said inlet end towards said remote end; 
 wherein said hooks are provided on strips of a material having the hook side of a hook and loop type fastening arrangement; and 
 wherein compaction lids are provided to be driven by a compactor to compact entrapped collection bags of fecal material. 
 
     
     
       2. The fecal canister as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein there are a plurality of said strips. 
     
     
       3. The fecal canister as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein there are air passage holes formed adjacent said inlet end. 
     
     
       4. The fecal canister as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said compaction lids have tabs at an outer periphery which bend when forced between the inlet end and the remote end, and said tabs are captured by said hooks to prevent expansion. 
     
     
       5. The fecal canister as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein an inner cross-sectional area of said canister decreases from said inlet end moving toward said remote end. 
     
     
       6. The fecal canister as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein said compaction lids have tabs at an outer periphery which bend when forced into the decreasing cross-sectional area between the inlet end and the remote end, and said tabs are captured by said hooks to prevent expansion. 
     
     
       7. A fecal canister for use in a space application comprising:
 a canister body extending from an inlet end toward a remote end; 
 hooks aligned along an inner surface of said canister from said inlet end towards said remote end; 
 collection bags utilized with said canister provided with an outer periphery having loops structure that will be captured by said hooks; and 
 wherein compaction lids are provided to be driven by a compactor to compact entrapped collection bags of fecal material. 
 
     
     
       8. The fecal canister as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said hooks are provided on strips of a material having the hook side of a hook and loop type fastening arrangement. 
     
     
       9. The fecal canister as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said compaction lids have tabs at an outer periphery which bend when forced into the decreasing cross-sectional area between the inlet end and the remote end, and said tabs are captured by said hooks to prevent expansion. 
     
     
       10. The fecal canister as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said bags are provided with a non-woven outer material to provide said loops. 
     
     
       11. The fecal canister as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein an inner surface of said bags is provided with a PTFE material and said non-woven material at an outer periphery. 
     
     
       12. A fecal canister arrangement for use in space applications comprising:
 a canister body having an inlet end and a remote end and air passages adjacent said inlet end; 
 an interior of said canister decreasing in cross-section from said inlet end and moving toward said remote end; 
 a plurality of strips of the hook side of the hook and loop fastener material extending along the interior of said canister from said inlet end and toward said remote end; and 
 a compaction lid and fecal collection bag, and at least one of said compaction lid and collection bags having structure to be hooked by said hooks on said strips of material to retain said at least one of said compaction lids and said collection bags after said collection bags have been compacted in volume. 
 
     
     
       13. The fecal canister arrangement as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein compaction lids are provided to be driven by a compactor to compact entrapped collection bags of fecal material. 
     
     
       14. The fecal canister arrangement as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said compaction lids have tabs at an outer periphery which bend when forced into the decreasing cross-sectional area between the inlet end and the remote end, and said tabs are captured by said hooks to prevent expansion. 
     
     
       15. The fecal canister arrangement as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein collection bags utilized with said canister are provided with an outer periphery having loops structure that will be captured by said hooks. 
     
     
       16. The fecal canister arrangement as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein collection bags utilized with said canister are provided with an outer periphery having loops structure that will be captured by said hooks. 
     
     
       17. The fecal canister arrangement as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein said bags are provided with a non-woven outer material to provide said loops. 
     
     
       18. The fecal canister arrangement as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein an inner surface of said bags is provided with a PTFE material and said non-woven material at an outer periphery. 
     
     
       19. A fecal canister for use in a space application comprising:
 a canister body extending from an inlet end toward a remote end; 
 hooks aligned along an inner surface of said canister from said inlet end towards said remote end; 
 wherein collection bags utilized with said canister are provided with an outer periphery having loops structure that will be captured by said hooks; 
 wherein compaction lids are provided to be driven by a compactor to compact entrapped collection bags of fecal material; and 
 wherein said compaction lids have tabs at an outer periphery which bend when forced between the inlet end and the remote end, and said tabs are captured by said hooks to prevent expansion.